Redeemed to New Life

Introduction

ILLUST - My favorite part of auto body repair was painting - seeing go from several colors from different parts of the repair to one color, shiny and new.

Reality is 95% of the work had been done before the car was painted. The final external coat of shininess covered what was underneath but if not done correctly, what was underneath would come through. Ex., Maaco “Presidential Special”

Two reasons why people do not experience the joy and freedom that comes with the Christian life - Both have the tendency to make the same statement — Christianity doesn’t work — However, the truth is they are either not redeemed or they are not applying the redemption that comes with knowing Christ.

“I trusted in Jesus but nothing in my life has changed”

“I don’t feel any different”

“I still struggle with sin”

John 3:1–7 (ESV)

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

2 questions:

Why did he go to Jesus?

Why did he go at night?

Went at night:

because he was afraid of what other teachers might think?

to follow John’s pattern of picturing physical darkness as spiritual darkness.

Went to Jesus:

Believed Jesus might be able to give him some answers.

Knew something was wrong

How many of us know the world is not right?

jobs- see it every day

life - experience it sometime

We look and long for ways to fix it - idols

control

sex

money

religion (Nicodemus)

Problem is not that we are simply victims of a world of sin and we need to somehow fix it, the problem is that we are born sinners.

The issue is not the sin around me; it’s the sin IN me.

Romans 3:23 (ESV)

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

How would Nicodemus have understood this phrase “born again?”

Wouldn’t have understood why it was necessary - he had the best pedigree as a Jew - God’s chosen people

He was simply coming to Jesus to see if Jesus could fill a gap in his life - give him something to add, but Jesus is saying that Nicodemus needs to start over!!

we don’t need a change of behavior, we need a change of heart.

Some here who feel you’re fine - you’ve a pretty good spiritual pedigree

Jesus, knowing your heart, what would he say? What needs to change?

How much do you use Jesus for “a little something extra?” “Just to fill in the gaps?”

Some here who know you just need to start over - you need a new life!

(beauty of redemption is that while we cannot “enter again into our mother’s womb” Jesus can redeem what has been broken or lost - next week)

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

Water and spirit:

physical vs spiritual

John’s baptism vs Spirit

certainly does NOT mean baptism is necessary for salvation

Interesting that the verb of negation is in the present tense not the future tense.

cannot see

cannot enter

kingdom of God

already / not yet

This means the experience of new birth starts NOW!

Shows two things: First is an explanation, second is implication:

You need to be born again to live a new life!

Notice the shift from ‘one’ to YOU

You need to be redeemed!

Jesus didn’t say:

You must live a good life

You must go to church

You must . . .

It is not a YOU NEED TO DO, it is a YOU NEED TO BE.

Only Jesus can bring you new life

Only you Jesus know if you need new life.

John 2:23–25 (ESV)

23 Now when he (Jesus) was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Introduction to next several stories where Jesus will meet several types of people and expose their hearts: Religious Nicodemus, Samaritan Woman, and a Gentile Official

Tells us something about Jesus and something about people:

Jesus, as God, knows the heart of man.

because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Knowing the human heart is a power found only with God.

Jeremiah 17:10 (ESV)

10 “I the Lord search the heart

and test the mind,

to give every man according to his ways,

according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Jesus knows your heart right now.

An outward belief does not always equal an inward trust.

many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them,

They believed Jesus, but they didn’t really BELIEVE Jesus

Scary part — Nicodemus was a religious leader

In 2000, 45 percent of all those sampled qualified as practicing Christians. (Practicing Christians identify as Christian, agree strongly that faith is very important in their lives and have attended church within the past month.)

That share has consistently declined over the last 19 years. Now, just one in four Americans (25%) is a practicing Christian. In essence, the share of practicing Christians has nearly dropped in half since 2000.

[https://www.barna.com/research/changing-state-of-the-church/]

In Pew Research Center telephone surveys conducted in 2018 and 2019, 65% of American adults describe themselves as Christians when asked about their religion

[https://www.pewforum.org/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/]

These are the:

- “Sure, I’m a Christian.”

- “I said a prayer once.”

- “I went to church as a kid.”

“I was baptized as a baby.”

There is a religion, a statement of belief , but they have not given themselves to Jesus.

Lives are no different from those who do not believe.

Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV)

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Don’t wait for THAT day!

Perhaps the only thing worse than searching for hope is resting in a false hope.

Don’t rest, live, or die with a false hope!

New birth brings new life!

When you’re born again everything becomes new, and all that once was becomes renewed.

John 3:15–17 (ESV)

15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Do you live like those who are condemned in their sin b/c you are still in sin?

Titus 2:14 (ESV)

14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Do you live like those who are condemned b/c you believe is wanting to condemn you?

Romans 8:1 (ESV)

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Neither is the way to live the redeemed life!

Conclusion

Where do you need redemption in your life?

Where in your life do you need to see the redeeming power of God’s grace?

Freedom

Release

Renewal

Joy

If you’re a Christian here today, what is it that you are still meeting with in hopes it will give you life?

Do you need to be born again?

There is no excuse to wait to be born again

There is no time to wait to be born again

Invitation to baptism

There is no excuse to NOT be baptized

This is the perfect time to be baptized